Yesterday we stopped by the library to return our stack of books and take out another stack. Much to my surprise there was a sign-up table for the Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme is Catch the Reading Bug and the sign-up packet is chock-full-o’-goodies.

The main focus is, of course, to get and keep kids reading throughout the summer. The packets contain suggested reading lists, a log book to record book titles and a log sheet that helps you keep track of each 15 minute time block that they read. As an added incentive, for every 30 minutes your child reads they will receive an entry blank for the Summer Celebration Prize Drawing!

So, the next time someone says “Mooom, I’m bored.” take them to the library and sign ‘em up; they just might find a book or two or three to crawl into!

School’s out for summer…No more pencilsNo more booksNo more teacher’s dirty looks- Alice Cooper, “School’s Out“

We’re enjoying a very sluggy morning around our house. The kids are relaxing in the family room after sleeping in late. No early wake-up call. No rushing around to get ready to catch the bus. No stress.

Ahhhh.

Now I’m bracing myself for the inevitable “Mom, can I have a playdate?” “What are we doing today?? “Mooom, I’m bored.” “Why can’t I play the Wii/Playstation all day?!?” I’m sure you’ve heard it all, too. Somedays I feel more like Julie, your Cruise Director*, than Mom; honestly, I don’t remember reading “Social Director” in the mommy job description! Did I miss a paragraph? Oh, wait, I vaguely remember something about “other duties as deemed necessary”…nevermind.

Today will be a lazy day for the kids (although not for Mom) but my mental list of jobs is growing longer by the hour. They may be young but there are still things they can do to help out around here. They’ll be washing windows and scrubbing floors in no time! (just kidding…sorta) The pool and playset will get a good workout but so will they – after all, it’s a long summer.

What about your kids? What will they be doing this summer? Camps? Work? Shipped off to Grandma’s house? Share your ideas and plans with the rest of us!

“This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.”- Fred Thompson as Adm. Josh Painter, ” The Hunt for Red October

Ok, so maybe that’s overstating things a tad. (But it did give me an excuse to use one of my favorite movie quotes.)

Prices on everything are going up and up and up and it seems as though everything is effected these days. Gas is the first obvious thing: it seems as though nearly every day the prices at the pump are higher (my Sam’s Club membership is really starting to pay for itself.) The higher cost of fuel is rippling into the grocery store and everywhere else. My last few trips to Wegmans have given me sticker shock! This week I discovered that if I got over my Wal-Mart hangup I could save a few bucks on groceries there.

Tell me, what things do you do to save money these days? Do you shop at more than one grocery store to save money? Do you clip coupons? Do you do all your errands at once? Share your tips and secrets!

If you were thinking that Greece residents got all the fun when they had Ridge Road redesigned then you’re going to be very happy with what the DOT has in store for us — Jefferson Road’s facelift.

An article in today’s paper formally announced the project that is intended to ease traffic problems on Jefferson Road. The redesign will effect the stretch between Marketplace Drive (that borders Red Lobster) and Ridgeland Road (that borders Staples & Outback). That’s a little over one mile of heavily traveled road and it encompasses the intersection of Jefferson and E. Henrietta Roads…that ought to be fun, don’t you think?

So tell me: Do you think we need more lanes on Jefferson Road? Are you grumbling as your idle through three signal changes waiting to get past the Jeff./E. Hen. intersection? Do you think this is good or bad? Talk to me!

Yesterday while I was at a luncheon I had two separate women comment to me about my husband staying home with the kids so I could be there. One said, “Oh, so S is babysitting the kids?” and the other asked how the kids would fare under dad’s care…will he remember to feed them lunch? Both comments left me nearly speechless and wanting desperately to tout my husband’s skills as a father.

Since today is Father’s Day it gives us a perfect opportunity to thank dear ol’ dad for all he is and does. Poor dads, they’re underestimated and often maligned…hardly seems fair for all they do. They hold hands, kiss boo-boos, listen intently, cheer the kids on, encourage, play “good cop” and sometimes “bad cop”, give piggy back rides, they say “yes” when mom says “no”, and so very much more.

Take a few minutes today to say thanks to your father for all he does; give him a kiss and a hug. Ask for some advice, take him golfing or for a walk or whatever he likes to do. Just be sure to tell him how much you love him.

Once upon a time I was a technical writer in the computer industry, although it seems pretty straightforward there were times when I’d get a bad case of writer’s block. So I can’t say I’m too surprised that it’s hitting me now. Argh! There’s nothing worse than knowing you have to write something and not being able to come up with anything particularly noteworthy. *sigh*

How ’bout this…here are some random things from around town:

The soon-to-be Canandaigua National Bank is starting to take shape on the corner of E. Henrietta and Castle Roads.

The Instant Oil Change on E. Henrietta is closed. I think I saw a sign saying they relocated but I’ll have to check it out tomorrow when I take my dog to the vet next door.Update: The sign says they’ve relocated to Jefferson Rd.

The building across the street from Red Lobster is looking closer to completion but there’s still no word on what it’s going to be.Update: The building will house a Great Northern Pizza Kitchen & Starbucks.

A drive down memory lane a couple weeks ago found us admiring a new community being built where RIT’s Racquet Club apartments were once upon a time.

Winslow Elementary School just celebrated their 50th anniversary!

The new Wegmans on Calkins Road is looking great! The current location has the plans showing the outside and inside layouts…it’s pretty impressive! All that being said, I’m still going to miss our “Little Weggies” when it closes.Update: The buzz among my mommy-friends is that the new Weggies will have a W-Kids area where you can safely leave your little one(s) while you do your shopping. Good news: it’s free. Bad news: there is a time limit. Hmm…do you think they’ll watch my husband for me while I go shopping with the kids?

Ok, that’s all that’s coming to me right now. Your turn, what are you seeing around town (and that includes in Rush, too) that is new and noteworthy?

There’s been a lot of buzz lately on Gov. Paterson’s recent announcement regarding same-sex marriages and I’ve been trying to resist the urge to chime in on this one. The paper has been covering it (obviously) and even Denise-Marie Santiago wrote a column regarding it…so why me? Well, I don’t know, I guess it’s just one of those topics that really bothers me enough to write something about it.

My problem is this: What’s all the fuss about?!? I don’t mean to seem disingenuous about it but, really, what’s the problem?

My husband and I married after years of knowing one another and dating, and we probably wouldn’t have bothered with the whole formal marriage thing if it weren’t for the fact that we were going to start a family. We married because it would bestow certain rights upon each other (as a spouse) and it was deeply ingrained in us that raising children should be done as a married couple (that’s just us, your mileage may vary). We had a civil ceremony and are just as married as if it took place in a church.

I can understand if your religion doesn’t acknowledge or sanction same-sex marriages, but why can’t the state? All marriages require a license issued (locally) by the state to be legal with or without a clergy person officiating – it’s a function of the state, religion is optional. So if your religion forbids same-sex marriage so be it…we’re all granted freedom of religion.

What I don’t understand is why this is so threatening to some people? Shouldn’t we celebrate love? Isn’t love and commitment a good thing? Shouldn’t we want two loving people to share the same rights that many of us currently enjoy? We’re not talking about specialprivileges here, we’re talking about the samerights as heterosexual couples. Why is this so threatening? There was a time that people thought that marriages between those of different religions or race were abhorrent and now we accept these marriages as easily as any other. Why can’t the state acknowledge marriage between two adults regardless of their gender?

I expect there will be some feedback here from those of you who think I’m a heretic or worse. That’s ok, I don’t expect everyone to agree with me; I really needed to speak my mind about this. Now it’s your turn to do the same.

you find yourself waiting in line with umpteen other parents to sign your child up for Preschool Playground at Town Hall

you spend a few hours a week sitting on bleachers or a folding chair watching your kid play sports (soccer, baseball, lacrosse, etc.)

it’s snowing cottonwood fuzz all over Monroe Co.

the kids are starting the summer vacation countdown

Gro-Moore’s parking lot is jammed all day Saturday and Sunday

Read’s is SRO

These are just a few that are popping to mind. What are the things that mean spring to you?

I’ve always thought that people who live in this part of the country know how to make the most of good weather. We seem to wring every last drop of enjoyment out of each warm and sunny day – whether it’s something as simple as going out for walks or eating dinner outside or racing up to the lake after work for a quick boat ride – we make the most of our all-too-short spring and summer seasons.

What things do you do to enjoy the nice weather?(If we ever start to get some, that is.

Jody Davies grew up in New York's north country and came to Henrietta as a student at RIT. She has lived in and around Henrietta for over 25 years. She and her husband have two children enrolled in RH schools where she is actively involved in the PTO and as a Girl Scout troop co-leader. When she's not running all over town with the kids, she enjoys sewing, kayaking, reading and marathon Scrabble games with her husband, Sean.